January 12 – It’s About Heart

by Pastor Greg

I’m loving this journey along the “route66″. As I read in Matthew 9 today I’m reminded of how much God loves us, and when we realize our need for Him we will find Him. Here’s my thoughts, in the S.O.A.P. format of Bible study that I will be modeling in this week’s service.

Scripture that hit me…

Matthew 9:10-13 (NLT)
¹⁰ Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.
¹¹ But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
¹² When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”
¹³ Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Observations…

• It’s always a great reminder that Jesus called the unworthy and unwanted to be His disciples. When he chose Matthew, He was choosing a person who would be hated because of his reputation.
• Jesus wasn’t worried about what the religious people thought, He cared more about the lost.
• When Matthew receives grace, he quickly wants to share Jesus with others.
• When we think we’re healthy (ie…without sin), God will wait upon us to realize our spiritual sickness (sin).
• When we realize that without Christ we are lost, God reveals His grace to us and restores us to health through a relationship with Jesus.
• I want to always remember that I’m a sinner, but that I’ve been forgiven and should live like it!

Application…

1. I’m so thankful that Jesus chooses the unworthy, because that’s me. When I was lost and without hope, I turned to the world for help and found none. When I hit bottom and realized I was spiritually poor, I found Jesus; and through Him I found forgiveness, hope, belonging, purpose, and life!
2. I don’t care what the religious people think about me, or how we do church at Palm Valley. I need to care more about lost people than approval of man. I’m often tempted to not be radical in reaching people for Christ so that I won’t have to deal with conflict, but this would be compromising what Jesus has called me (and PVC) to be. I must continue to be passionate about reaching lost people!
3. I’d rather eat with “scum” who know they need help, than with “self-righteous” people who don’t think they do.
4. We need to continue to make PVC a hospital. I need to challenge our people to continue to reach out to the hurting and afflicted in our community!

Prayer…

Lord, thank you for reaching into the muck and mire of this world to reach me. Thank you for rescuing and forgiving me from sin! Thank you for life, life abundantly, and life eternally. Help me to have eyes for those who are hurting, that I might show them the love of Jesus’ with my actions. Give me strength to do what you have called me to. Help me to lead Palm Valley Church to prevail and dominate the west valley with the good news of a relationship with Jesus! amen.